element14 helping students globally to learn with micro:bit

element14 has announced to work to support product-led educational initiatives globally. Programs supported by element14 aim to create a fun and interactive learning opportunities for students to develop an understanding of computing and electronics at a young age, and build a pathway to a range of engineering and technology-driven careers.

One of the latest programs to be supported by element14 is the series of how-to videos featuring BBC micro:bit that are part of the element14 Community’s element14Presents: The Learning Circuit video series. In these instructional videos, host Karen Corbeill takes viewers through different ways to learn and explore with BBC micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply BBC micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life.

Karen Corbeill says, “Getting started with electronics can be quite daunting. BBC micro:bit is a great gateway tool with an amazing number of features for such a low price point. From being able to program using code blocks or simply clipping on accessories without having to solder or even just grabbing a piece of pre-programmed code, it is a wonderful way to get newbies hooked on electronics."

element14 also continues to work with governments, re-sellers and strategic partnerships to support product-led educational initiatives globally. The BBC micro:bit has experienced significant success since its launch through a program led by the BBC in the UK in 2016. Since this date, over 2.5m micro:bit boards have been sold globally, supporting programs as far flung as Denmark, Canada and Singapore. Sales of this popular coding device almost doubled in the last 12 months, over the previous period, with more than half of sales supporting broad educational programs.

The latest program is currently being rolled out in Norway. Entitled “super:bit”, this project is a collaboration between the national science centers, the organization “Teach kids code” and national broadcaster NRK, in Norway. The national rollout provides a classroom kit of technology to each of the 2,400 secondary schools in Norway, over two years, starting in September 2019. The kits have an interactive smart city theme and pupils will learn how to use the micro:bit through applications such as planning traffic flow around green spaces by using sensors to control traffic lights. The kits, shipped by Farnell, element14’s parent company, include BBC micro:bits, robots, and other electronic and non-electronic components.